Since this year is the 25th anniversary of the "Back to the Future" movie - and the fact that the local AMC theater is reairing the movie next week, I thought it would be a good idea to focus this week's NFL fantasy top players on the veteran all-stars in the NFL.
Every Monday, I shall show the top players at each offensive skill position - fantasy-style, with the percentage owned and started in parenthesis. All data is from espn.com
Let's begin:
Quarterback:
Kevin Kolb (15%/58.4%)
23/29, 326 yards passing and 3 TD's, 3 Int's; 1 rush for 2 yards
23 Fantasy Points
After Vick went down, Kolb has been the leader for the Iggles. With his precision passing the past two games (21/31 last week against the 49ers), the team is now tied with the G-Men for #1 in the division. Kolb is the quarterback for the present, but it's uncertain who is the quarterback for the Iggles in the immediate future, since both Kolb and Vick are uber-talented when both are fully healthy- but this team is first and foremost Kolb's team for now, so he is worth the start next week against the Titans.
Running Back:
Arian Foster (97.8/100)
18 Carries, 71 rushing yards and 2 TD's; 0 fumbles; 6 catches for 26 yards
21 Fantasy Points
Foster, as usual, had the typical big game, helping the Texans in their come-from-behind victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with 2 rushing touchdowns. He, not wide receiver Andre Johnson, is the focal point of this team's offense from here on out - although you would definitely want to BENCH him next week, since the Texans have a bye.
Running Back:
Ryan Torain (64.6/88.3)
2 Carries, 100 rushing yards and 2 TD's; 1 Catch for 9 Yards
22 Fantasy Points
Torain had the monster game he should have - playing against the Colts' woeful passing defense. After Clinton Portis went down with a groin injury, Torain has been the #1 running back for the 'Skins, and will be the #1 back for the immediate future. Next week's opponent, the Chicago Bears, are stout in their rushing defense, ranking 8th overall and allowing only 14.4 fantasy points/game to opposing running backs. So, Torain is a sure-fire #2/flex option in week 7.
Wide Receiver/Running Back (Flex):
Dwayne Bowe (33.8/89.3)
6 Catches for 108 Yards and 2 TD's
22 Fantasy Points
Looks like we should not be "over the Dwayne Bowe" ("over the rainbow"). But maybe we should, since the Chiefs were playing against one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL in the Houston Texans. Basically, any #1 wide receiver starting against the Texans in the coming weeks should automatically be starting for your fantasy team - that means you should start Reggie Wayne (week 8); Malcolm Floyd and Antonio Gates (if he is fully healthy) (week 9); Sims-Walker (week 10); Holmes and Edwards (week 11); Washington and Britt (week 12); Maclin and Jackson (week 13); Boldin (week 14)...etc.
Bowe will not have another performance this season like the one against the Texans yesterday - actually, he may against the Bills (week 9).
Wide Receiver:
Calvin Johnson (66.1/100)
5 Catches for 146 receiving yards and 1 TD
20 Fantasy Points
I guess that 43.9% of all owners thought that Megatron would not do the damage that he did against the Giants' defense yesterday, based upon last week's shoulder injury suffered against the St. Louis Rams. I thought so, as well, benching him for the likes of Danny Amendola (the #1 wide receiver for the Rams), who only gave me 3 measly fantasy points. Johnson has 20, 11 and 20 fantasy points in the last three games. Like Foster and Andre Johnson (not related), Megatron should be benched next week - bye week for both the Lions and the Texans.
Wide Receiver:
Jeremy Maclin (40.7/100)
7 Catches for 159 receiving yards and 2 TD's
27 Fantasy Points
Once his big-play teammate DeSean Jackson went to the locker room midway into the second quarter due to a head-to-head collision with Atlanta Falcons' cornerback Duante Robinson, Maclin became the go-to-guy for the remainder of the game for the Iggles. If "Action Jackson" is out for any length of time, Maclin becomes the #1 receiver for the Iggles and for any owner's fantasy team. I would start him next week against the Titans, who have allowed 22, 33 and 39 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers the last three games.
Tight End
Benjamin Watson (1.5/4.6)
6 Catches for 88 yards and 1 TD
14 Fantasy Points
It was a quiet week 7 for the NFL's tight ends - especially after uber-stud Antonio Gates left the game after the second quarter with a re-aggravated leg injury. Watson was rookie Colt McCoy's go-to-receiver against the Steelers' defense, so, unless McCoy remains the Browns' starting quarterback, Watson remains fantasy-irrelevant.
Kicker
Dan Carpenter (5.1/7.7)
3 for 3 on Field Goals; 2 for 2 on Extra-Points
15 Fantasy Points
Finally a repeat of a kicker in this slot. Carpenter, with his week 3 and week 6 performance, is now a guaranteed bona-fide #1 kicker this season. Although he is only owned in 7.7% of all ESPN fantasy Leagues, if you have a terrible kicker this season, Carpenter is worth owning this year - even against the Pittsburgh Steelers next week.
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers
2 Ints for 3 yards; 2 Fumble Recoveries; 2 Sacks; and allowing 91 rushing yards and 122 passing yards
13 Fantasy Points
Like the tight-ends, this week was a down week for even defense/special teams. Speaking of the Steelers, they once again own the top spot for best fantasy defense/special teams this week - but then again, they were facing the woeful Cleveland Browns and their rookie quarterback Colt McCoy. They face a much tougher task against the Miami Dolphins in week 7, but they still are a must-start for the remainder of the season.
TOTAL Fantasy Points: 177 (A NEW Weekly Low!)
No comments:
Post a Comment